In a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew, the Holy Father says ‘God … has taught us throughout these years to regard one another as members of the same family.’

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis sent special greetings to the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church Nov. 30, expressing his desire for continued dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

“Your Holiness, beloved brother in Christ, this is the first time that I address you on the occasion of the feast of the apostle Andrew, the first called. I take this opportunity to assure you of my intention to pursue fraternal relations between the Church of Rome and the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” he wrote on Nov. 30 in the message delivered by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Cardinal Koch had led a delegation from the Holy See to Istanbul for the feast of St. Andrew. After taking part in a liturgy presided over by Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constaninople, Cardinal Koch delivered Pope Francis’ message.

“It is for me a source of great reassurance to reflect on the depth and the authenticity of our existing bonds, the fruit of a grace-filled journey along which the Lord has guided our Churches since the historic encounter in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras,” the Pope’s message said, referencing the momentous event of 1965 in which the leaders of the two Churches lifted the excommunications that had been placed on each other in 1054.

Pope Francis explained, “God, the source of all peace and love, has taught us throughout these years to regard one another as members of the same family.”

“For indeed, we have one Lord and Savior. We belong to him through the gift of the good news of salvation transmitted by the apostles, through the one baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity and through the holy ministry.”

The Holy Father then reflected on the current state of relationship between the Churches and indicated his hope for the future. “United in Christ, therefore, we already experience the joy of authentic brothers in Christ, while yet fully aware of not having reached the goal of full communion.”

“In anticipation of the day in which we will finally take part together in the Eucharistic feast, Christians are duty-bound to prepare to receive this gift of God through prayer, inner conversion, renewal of life and fraternal dialogue.”

Pope Francis also took time to consider the difficulties faced by Christians in the East who are persecuted for their faith.

“The memory of the martyrdom of the apostle St. Andrew also makes us think of the many Christians of all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities who, in many parts of the world, experience discrimination and at times pay with their own blood the price of their profession of faith,” he said.

“Christians of the East and West must give common witness so that, strengthened by the Spirit of the risen Christ, they may disseminate the message of salvation to the entire world.”

Earlier on Nov. 30, Pope Francis had met with pilgrims from the Greek Melkite Catholic Church, expressing similar concern for Middle-Eastern Christians who face serious persecution.

“My thoughts go immediately to our brothers and sisters in Syria, who have been suffering a ‘great tribulation’ for a long time; I pray for the many who have lost their lives and for their loved ones,” he said to those gathered in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.

“We believe firmly in the strength of prayer and reconciliation,” said the Holy Father. “For centuries, your church has known how to coexist peacefully with other religions and is called to carry out the task of fraternity in the Middle East.”

Moreover, he insisted, the presence of Christians in the Middle East is crucial: “We are not resigned to thinking of the Middle East without Christians.”

Those Eastern Christians who remain in communion with the Catholic Church, such as those of the Melkite tradition, are, the Pope said, a “visible sign to all of our Eastern brethren of the desired communion with the Successor of Peter.”

Comments

We all agree on unity between mankind , but there is difficulties to get there and I think the most difficult factor is the “leadership” where is many of them just acting to keep their holy positions in place. just like the days of Moses and the pharoe, when the pharoe’s asistance trying to keep their positions regardless of the truth and Moses Miracals he performed?.
=== jessus said ( seek and you will find ) === we all should start seeking the truth ===

Posted by Salem on Thursday, Jan 2, 2014 6:23 PM (EDT):

First of all let us agree that jessus did not witness ” Catholicism “which came later after the ” Roman Empire ” was ended. also about 800 other churches related to the cross ” christians ” eastern and western . and also the name christ is a given name to him , he himself may not recognize it ? -
second ,I can see so many changes happening in many churches ( such as gay issue ) which I belive it is against jessus teaching ? i.e more political than Godly Gosple ? (=== One God—> one message ===> PEACE ===)

I do not think that Chris’ attitude towards Catholicism is shared by most Eastern Orthodox Christians. However, we do not want union for the sake of union until we have resolved the doctrinal issues that divide us, the most important of which is the role of the Pope. Various national and an international dialogue between official representatives of Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism have been meeting for several years and are working on resolving our differences. We should all pray that they will be successful. Meanwhile, we can work together to provide a common witness to traditional Christian moral teachings in a society that is becoming increasingly hostile towards Christian morality.

Posted by Salem on Tuesday, Dec 31, 2013 3:54 PM (EDT):

ONE GOD—> ONE message—> *** Peace ***

Posted by Joseph Galloy on Monday, Dec 30, 2013 9:45 PM (EDT):

I am a Latin Catholic and long for the day that my Church and the Holy Orthodox Church find a way towards inter-communion. I hope to see it yet in my lifetime. Instead of watching and waiting, can’t we all strive towards it ourselves, by attending each others’ liturgies and getting to know each other as people? Our disunity comes from pride that we alone (of either side) possess the fullness of truth. This isn’t what Christ wills.

Posted by Salem on Monday, Dec 30, 2013 5:42 PM (EDT):

There is only ” ONE TRUTH \ One God ” can be recognized by human mind - ( seek and you will find )jessus said - Matthew 22 -
36- Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37- Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38- This is the first and great commandment.

39- And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40- On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
=== This what Islam about from the creation of Adam & Eve to the end ===

Posted by Don RETSAS on Sunday, Dec 29, 2013 5:48 AM (EDT):

I am Eastern Orthodox and I hope and pray that both religions can be in communion with each other.

Posted by Joseph on Friday, Dec 20, 2013 9:52 AM (EDT):

Salem, impossible for man—but possible with God. Islam however is different. They deny Jesus is the Son of God. They say he was just a prophet—so Islam is not the same faith.

Posted by salem on Thursday, Dec 19, 2013 4:02 PM (EDT):

such unity with two opposit Faiths is impossible? but if someone ignor his faith and consider only his intrest may be possible? in this case what about Islamic Faith which recogniz the Bible and Jessus teaching with human unity?

Posted by Joseph on Saturday, Dec 7, 2013 3:04 PM (EDT):

I have been actively working in this area. I have written to both Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew calling on them to meet in council to unify the church. There is only one church, one family of God. We are two brothers who have fought each other for so long, it’s time to forgive, mend, and move forward. We do not have to become like each other—but we must respect each other as Christians of the same body—Christ’a body the one Apostolic church. People say it is impossible—but with God all things are possible. I brought a retired priest with me, and another church member and the 3 of us attended an Orthodox liturgy. We respect their traditions when in an Orthodox church. I will attend again from time to time.

Posted by Angie on Saturday, Dec 7, 2013 1:45 PM (EDT):

In reading the comments section here… I know that Christ’s goal was that his people be one. But I think, its going to take a long time for all of us to get over ourselves and fulfill his will for us to be one. Until we can get over our own pride and prejudices against each other, there will be no unity. I’m sure He has a way for it all to come about, now if we would just cooperate. :)

Posted by Seraphm on Friday, Dec 6, 2013 12:18 PM (EDT):

I am an early Church historian who, after years as an agnostic, spent four years investigating both Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. I found wonderful traditions in both, holy men and women in both, and I believe the Holy Spirit is present in both. Ultimately, both history and the Holy Spirit led me into Orthodoxy, but I hope for unity with Rome, as do many Orthodox Christians. The voices of those within Orthodoxy who oppose Roman Catholicism with vitriol are a loud minority, but they are just that- a minority. Better representatives of the true Orthodox view of Roman Catholics are people like (the late)John Meyendorff, Met. Kallistos Ware, Met. Hilarion Alfeyev, and David Bentley Hart. For further reading, I recommend “The Primacy of Peter” which is ed. by Meyendorff.

God bless you, brothers and sisters.

Posted by Karl on Thursday, Dec 5, 2013 9:47 AM (EDT):

Looking at Chris’s comment right there… that’s probably the sentiment of most faithful Orthodox Christians. They’re fierce about what they see is the integrity of their faith. Of course, talk without action is just talk.

What I hope the Catholic Church does is, again, continuing dialogue between the faiths and respect for one another’s beliefs. Respecting (and forgiving) others, regardless of belief or opinion or past mistakes, is at the heart of being a Christian.

I don’t know why some people don’t like the Catholic Church reaching out for the sake of forgiveness and respect for other’s beliefs. If some of those people are Christians then they are not acting like a Christian at all. Gosh, it was a thousand years since the Great Schism and some of us are still fighting like brats. Move on! What more do you want, a gift basket?

Posted by Chris on Thursday, Dec 5, 2013 8:51 AM (EDT):

No union with heretics! Until the Catholic Church renounces its heresies and innovations and embraces the fullness of the Orthodox faith, talk of unity is just that…talk. I don’t know why the popes keep clamoring for this. Do they just want ,ore people to rule, spiritually?

Posted by Gene Elder on Wednesday, Dec 4, 2013 1:40 PM (EDT):

I would like an email for contacting.
Gene Elder
HAPPY Foundation
San Antonio Texas.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Posted by Karl on Wednesday, Dec 4, 2013 3:59 AM (EDT):

That could be a good proposition, but I don’t think it will be possible. I’ve talked about this matter to some Orthodox Christians, and most of them say that unity with the Catholic Church wouldn’t be possible - and they don’t want to. Orthodox Christians see their faith as their own; in Russia some see the Orthodox Church as the “people’s faith”. Of course if we could look at the history of the relationship between the Orthodox Churches and ours, relations had been very rough. The doctrinal debates that led to Great Schism and the Fourth Crusade were a testament to that.

In my opinion I think what’s best for both churches is for unity in the sense of continuing dialogue and respect for one another - and I think Pope Francis is leading the same way previous popes have taken. Doctrinal unity, however, is a different matter altogether and if that were to happen then I think we will have consequences… Again just my two cents.

Posted by Bruce on Tuesday, Dec 3, 2013 4:11 PM (EDT):

I pray there comes a day when this is possible. However, all the infighting within the Church speaks to an utter failure to achieve unity amongst those who ostensibly agree. I don’t see, if we Catholics don’t have unity amongst ourselves on a great many issues of importance, how we could possibly entertain a realistic hope that the Orthodox would want to reunite.

Posted by Fr. John W. Morris on Tuesday, Dec 3, 2013 1:13 PM (EDT):

They have reached compromise on the date of Pascha (Easter) in the Middle East. The fixed feasts like the Nativity of Our Lord are observed according to the Gregorian Calendar. Easter is celebrated according to the Eastern Orthodox calculation. I agree that in this age of growing secularism and anti-Christian sentiment, it is essential that the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches present a common witness to the world in defense of Christian values. Then we can work on reuniting on the basis of the Faith of the ancient undivided Church before the schism.

Archpriest John W. Morris

Posted by Daniele on Tuesday, Dec 3, 2013 12:05 AM (EDT):

A positive step towards unity which should be possible for us would be to unify the dates of Easter. This division is a source of continual irritation and useless conflicts.

Posted by JR on Monday, Dec 2, 2013 2:55 PM (EDT):

This is my prayer, every day! The Orthodox Church is, as Blessed John Paul II said, the other lung of Christ’s church. It is a great scandal that we are still separated, and I believe many of the ills of the Church and of the world are a result of a separation that occurred because everyone wanted to be in charge and nobody wanted to let Christ be in charge. The Byzantine Catholic/Orthodox liturgy is rich and beautiful, and is much more likely to inspire a sense of awe and reverence than the Novus Ordo OR the Latin mass. Orthodox spirituality is, well, orthodox, but it is also focused on the richness of love and mercy made possible by the risen Christ among us. I continue to pray and to hope that this unity will come, if not in my lifetime, then soon. I am a convert from Methodism, and I love the Church, but if there were a Byzantine church near enough, or if we were in communion with the Orthodox, I would be there in a heartbeat.

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